question, to medicate or not

[hearthnsoul]

Well I went for supplies today and they seemed near out of everything. As we were talking about duck starter (which no one seems to have) SOmehow we got onto my chicks and she said why are you feeding them medicated chick mash? I said because aren't I supposed to? asked me where I got them and it was the other feed and grain, and I told her he gave me the medicated mash,..she said oh that's not good,..your chicks most likely were given antibiotic shot before he got them and you never would have needed to feed them medicated mash,...but because you started them on the medicated mash now you counteracted the vaccination from the chick hatchery.
That sounds kind of nonsensical to me,...but what do i know,..is this true?

 

[Gonzo]

yep! try to find out if the chicks were vacc. at the hatchery and what all for. the medicated food is to protect cocc. (I can't spell it!) but, if they were vacc. for it the new medicated feed will counteract and void the vacc. If this is the case, it'll be ok.. you'll just have to continue with the medicated feed. Where I come from, that's all I could find for our chicks. It'll be ok, and the babies will be fine.

 

[hearthnsoul]

Thanks for the response. Now medicated feed is just 6 weeks?
I really was so pleased with the guy at the feed and grain, now I kinda want to kick him

 

[gritsar]

Medicated chick starter does not have an antibiotic in it. It has a drug called a coccidistat (sp?). The drug helps prevent the chick from being overwhelmed by a infestation of coccidia, at the same time it helps them build an immunity to it.
If you have your chicks vaccinated for coccidia at the hatchery, then you don't feed medicated starter. If you do feed medicated starter all you've really done is wasted the money you spent on having them vaccinated. Feeding the medicated renders the vaccine null and void.
If you don't have chicks vaccinated for coccidia, then feeding medicated starter is a good way to accomplish the same goal - preventing chick death from coccidia and aiding the chick's immune system in building the immunity to it.
You have to ask that your chicks be vaccinated for coccidia and not all hatcheries offer the vaccine. If you got your chicks from a farm type store they should have informed you if your chicks were vaccinated and advised you against feeding the medicated.
Note: Having them vaccinated for Marek's has nothing to do with whether you feed medicated or not.
It's late, I'm tired. Does this make sense?

 

[hearthnsoul]

it does make sense